Educate Yourself

 

By Dr. Ken Matto

 

When we look around at the churches of today we see a sorry situation and that situation is that most churches are compromised and there is gospels being preached which do not match up with the Scriptures.  The Seminaries and Bible colleges of today are turning out confused and compromised Christians which has resulted in weak churches and a weak testimony to the world.  That trickles down to the congregations which sit under their teachings.  The modern day Christian has enough problems with the false and manipulated gospels being taught today and they do not need a continuous flow of graduates being placed in pulpits to add to the weakness of modern day Christianity.

 

If you believe that the Lord is edging you on to do some official studying, then it is time to educate yourself.  The Lord can use a person who is not officially trained in a seminary or Bible college.  If you think about it, all you are doing is spending thousands of dollars to go to a Bible college and then read books and tell the professors what they want to hear and then you graduate.  Normally that takes seven years out of your life for Bible college and seminary training plus tens of thousands of dollars.  It also takes you out of the Christian army whereby you will be unable to get involved in ministry until you graduate because when school lets out in May or June you will have to go to work to pay for next year’s schooling.

 

The great thing about self-educating yourself is that you have access to the same books used in seminaries and Bible colleges available on line through many book sellers.  This will save you tens of thousands of dollars plus while you are studying the subjects at hand, you will be able to be involved in ministry without having to wait seven years.  By time you complete seven years of ministry, you will be well versed in scripture plus you will have much experience in ministry.  I am going to give you recommendations on what to study for a full well-rounded Bible education and I will break it up into 4 segments with each segment equivalent to about 32 credits.  If you follow this plan, you will probably know more than a seminary graduate since you will be doing studies at your own pace absorbing the material according to your own speed.  If you self-educate yourself you will not be rushed to learn a certain amount of material in a set time, instead you can go at a leisurely pace so you can absorb the material you are studying and you will also not have the anxiety of tests which in itself proves nothing because anyone with a good memory can give the answers but it is the Christian who absorbs the material in their heart is what makes a good leader.

 

Initial Books needed for your library

These books are those that you should have as part of your library.  These are considered reference books and you will be referring to them for your entire Christian life.

 

Bible Dictionary – Recommend Unger’s

Guide to the Bible – Recommend Unger’s

Topical Bible – Recommend Nave’s

Handbook to the Bible – Recommend Eerdman’s or Unger’s

Bible Almanac – Packer, Tenney, and White

Concordance – Recommend Young’s or Strong’s

Bible Maps

 

If you have a computer, the software I highly recommend is Sword Searcher, available at:  https://www.swordsearcher.com/

 

For your Primary Bible I highly recommend the Reformation Heritage Bible King James Version which contains the Cambridge Text and is available at: https://www.heritagebooks.org/categories/bibles/reformation-heritage-kjv-study-bible.html

 

Semester 1

A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospel Realized Edited by Michael Kruger (RHB) – SKU -  9781433536762

 

A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament: The Gospel Promised Edited by Miles V. Van Pelt (RHB) – SKU - 9781433533464

 

Bible Prophecy: Interpreting the Scriptures according to the Scriptures by Dr. Ken Matto (A) ISBN – 1-64349-737-2

 

Zondervan Handbook of Biblical Archaeology: A Book by Book Guide to Archaeological Discoveries Related to the Bible (A) - ISBN-13: 978-0310286912

 

Manners and Customs of the Bible by James Freeman (A) ISBN-13: 978-0882700229

 

Archaeology of the Bible by James Hoffmeier (A) - ISBN-13: 978-0745952260

 

Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective by Brian Borgman and Rob Ventura (RHB) SKU – 9781601782847

 

Romans by J.V. Fesko (RHB) – SKU - 9781601786197

 

 

Semester 2

From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya by Ruth Tucker (A) - ISBN-13: 978-0310239376

 

Ready to Restore: Layman’s Guide to Christian Counseling by Jay Adams (RHB) – SKU -  9780875520704

 

The History of Protestantism by J.A. Wylie (3 Volumes) (RHB)

Chosen in Christ: The Glory of Grace in Ephesians 1 by Richard Phillips (RHB)  SKU 9780875527925

 

Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography by Herman Selderhuis (RHB) SKU - 9781433556944

 

A History of the Reformation by Thomas Lindsay (2 Volumes( (RHB) – SKU 9781579102838

 

Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin (A)  ISBN-13: 978-0764232657

 

None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God by Matthew Barrett (RHB) SKU -  9780801098741

 

Semester 3

A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger (RHB) – SKU - 9780801015502

 

New Age Bible Versions by Gail Riplinger (A) ISBN-13: 978-0963584502

 

The Modern Version Incursion by Dr. Ken Matto (A) ISBN 978-1-64140-869-1

 

The Whole Counsel of God - Volume 1 – God’s Mighty Acts in the Old Testament by Richard Gamble (RHB) – SKU - 9780875521916

 

The Whole Counsel of God – Volume 2 – The Full Revelation of God by Richard Gamble (RHB) – SKU - 9781596381810

 

Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson (A) ISBN-13: 978-0801049125

 

Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Lorraine Boettner (A) ISBN-13: 978-0875521121 (RHB)  SKU – 9780875521121

 

Outlines of Theology by A.A. Hodge (RHB) – SKU - 9780851511603

 

Semester 4

Genesis by Johannes Vos (RHB) – SKU - 9781884527203

 

Exposition of the Gospel of John by A.W. Pink – (A) ISBN-13: 978-0310311805

 

Let’s Study Ephesians by Sinclair Ferguson (RHB) -  9780851519074

 

Hebrews: Lectio Continua Commentary by Dr. David McWilliams (RHB) – SKU - 9781938139017

 

Revelation: Reformed Expository Commentary by Richard Phillips (RHB) – SKU -  9781629952390

 

New Testament Greek Primer by S.M. Baugh (RHB) SKU – 9781596381629

 

Introduction to Hebrew by William Fullilove (RHB) SKU – 9781629952710

 

The Gospel Call and True Conversion by Paul Washer (RHB)  SKU – 9781601782633

 

(A) – Amazon Books – https://www.amazon.com

(RHB) Reformation Heritage Books - https://www.heritagebooks.org/

 

 

What I have offered here is not an easy Bible education but it is a thorough one and will be equal to a Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree.  These books will stay with you for the rest of your life and will be referred to quite frequently.  A good Bible education is priceless and it does not have to cost you thousands of dollars plus you do not have to be absent from your life for 7 years.  Remember you have a great study partner because the Holy Spirit has inspired the Bible and he will guide you in your understanding of it.  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  (John 16:13)

 

How do I Study?

1) You must determine you will set aside time to study each day, if you cannot commit, then do not buy any books or attempt to start.

2) Find a quiet out of the way place where you will not be disturbed and that includes your phone and computer.

3) As you read through these books and find quotes that you like, make notes and copy down the pages where you found such a quote for future use and then alphabetize them.

4) If you can, purchase an electronic dictionary because there will be words that you are not familiar with.  I have one and I still use it because there are many words I do not know or have forgotten the meanings over the years.

 

As you begin to study you will establish a routine which suits your situation the best.  The main thing is that once you commit you follow through.  Remember you do not have any time constraints to finish any book but that does not mean you become lazy either. 

 

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.  (Proverbs 19:15)

 

By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.  (Ecclesiastes 10:18)

 

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.  (Proverbs 18:9)

 

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.  (Proverbs 26:14)

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